MV STUDENTS PERFORM AT JUNIOR HIGH ALL-COUNTY FESTIVAL

Thirteen Minisink Valley students in grades 7-9 participated in the Junior High All County Festival on April 15-16, at the Pine Bush High School. Students throughout Orange County auditioned in February for the chance to be selected to this prestigious event.

“The purpose of this festival is to give students who are at the top of their school’s music department an opportunity to perform with others who are at the same performance level,” said Laura Martellaro, music/band teacher.

“This kind of event helps me become a better musician, make friends with other people and play great music.” said 8th grader Brendan Cahill, a bassoon player.

Participating Minisink students in the orchestra were Brendan Cahill, bassoon; Adelle Leger, tuba; and Caleb Warford, percussion; in the band, Celesta Blezy, trumpet; AJ Bubilo, euphonium; Regina Burns, clarinet; Ryan Fogler, trumpet; Alex Garcia, tuba; Molly Gonzalez, clarinet; and Penny Sierra, bass clarinet; in the chorus, Tobias Enoch, baritone; Adeline Rajnert, alto; and Miles Scarzfava, baritone. Students’ families were invited to the Saturday afternoon concert, and were treated to a variety of songs from music history.

The orchestra was conducted by Kathleen Coletta Feldman, violinist, educator, and director of the Westchester Putnam Youth Symphony. The concert program included Go West! featuring such western themes as The Magnificent Seven and The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly.

The chorus was directed by Christian Waugh, a baritone known to New York City’s opera, concert and recital audiences. Choral highlights included “The Heavens are Telling” from Haydn's The Creation and “Bridge over Troubled Water” by Paul Simon.

Christopher Fens, an educator from Chesterfield County, VA, formerly with the United States Marine Corps Band at Quantico, lead the band on a Karl King march, “Allied Honor,” highlights from "Into the Woods," and “The Great Locomotive Chase” by Robert W. Smith.

"This is one of the many experiences that make someone a professional musician," said Penny Sierra, an 8th grader who plays bass clarinet.